Week of May 16, 2024

Getting P.R.E.P.'ed

FINN ROCK: Personnel from firefighting agencies outnumbered the public for last week’s P.R.E.P. meeting. People who weren’t there missed gaining insights into how plans to protect them are evolving to meet new challenges associated with long-lasting wildfires. During the Plan, Resilient, Educate, Prepare (P.R.E.P.) session Darren Bucich, McKenzie Fire and Rescue Chief, gave outlined how the area’s fire districts interact to conduct evacuations. He also explained that although “we...

Tech educator

Corey Culp, McKenzie River Community School's computer science teacher, has been named Technology Educator of the Year - along with two other outstanding K-12 Oregon and SW Washington. The award comes with a cash stipend of $1,000 for their classrooms to spend on tech education materials including hardware, software, services, or curriculum. For forty years, Oregon Technology Awards (OTAs) have celebrated excellence and achievement in the region's technology industry. This year's event will...

Another look at Main Street

LEABURG: The McKenzie River Discovery Center at Leaburg Lake hosted the second “Listening Session” on May 10th for a proposal to see if the McKenzie area could benefit from a “Main Street” approach. It’s an idea that has helped communities around the state either boost or stabilize their economies, according to the National Main Street Center and Oregon Parks and Recreation. In April, the McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored a meeting with RAIN and Rural Development...

History in the making?

BLUE RIVER: There were plenty of smiles on the faces of people to go along with sunny skies last Saturday. Many of the grins were on faces that a week before had spent a rainy day spiffing up the town in anticipation of celebrating the rebuilding of fire-damaged public structures and homes. As Cliff Richardson of Locals Helping Locals noted during his opening remarks, the soft opening of the Blue River Fire Station was an event that “Blue River can now brag about,” as well as the progress...

Ready to take on some rapids

LEABURG: A successful dory workshop concluded last Friday at the McKenzie River Discovery Center (MRDC). The ten-day class was led by Brad Dimick, Cricket, and Glade Zarn of Fretwater Boatworks in Flagstaff, Arizona. Ten men and two women went from lofting the boat, building the parts, assembling the hull, and sanding and painting - to launching the result in ten days. According to Roger Fletcher, an MRDC board member and workshop coordinator, “the class re-created the first dory built for...

Person of Interest

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate William David McCormick, 52. He is a person of interest in an assault investigation. McCormick was recently seen in the Vida and McKenzie Bridge area. People who have any information regarding McCormick’s location, can call the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4141 and reference case...

  • McKenzie Sports Report - May 16

    Cliff Richardson

    McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week The Class 1A State Track and Field Championships are this Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17 at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. This meet will conclude the 2024 McKenzie Varsity Track and Field season. Griffin Withalm Sprints To State McKenzie 4x100 m. Relay Qualifies McKenzie Track and Field student/athlete Griffin Withalm qualified for the 2024 Class 1A State Track and Field meet at Hayward Field next Thursday and Friday, May 16, and 17. Withalm qualified for both the...

  • The Case of the Klondike Kate Katfight

    Finn J.D. John

    Part Two Kathleen Eloise Rockwell was born in Kansas in 1876 and grew up in Spokane and Valparaiso, Chile. At age 18 she left home, moved to New York, and took a job as a chorus girl. It was the start of a lifelong career as a dancer on the Vaudeville scene. The turn of the century found Kate in Spokane again, working in a variety of theaters there. And that’s where she was when she heard about the Klondike gold rush. She was adventuresome, athletic, and young, and the Klondike offered her...

  • Gardening can be an option for renters

    Debbie Teashon

    Embarking on the journey of planting a garden can be a significant milestone, a testament to the home you’ve created, even if it’s a rented house or apartment. Your new space can transform into a canvas for container, vegetable, or ornamental gardening, a testament to your green thumb and creativity. Many rental homes have witnessed the birth of passionate gardeners. Despite the temporary nature of their living arrangements, people strive to infuse their space with a personal touch, and for...

  • Sheriff's Report - May 16

    April 22: 2:21 p.m: Fraud - 88900 blk, Ross Ln. Ongoing civil dispute and theft. 3:44 p.m: Criminal Mischief - 94300 blk, Johnson Rd. Self report regarding a trespass and stolen vehicle registration stickers. 3:48 p.m: Fraud - 51600 block, Blue River Dr. The caller received a scam phone call pretending to be their bank. The caller confirmed it was a scam. No money was lost. April 28: 9:19 a.m: Disturbance, Dispute - Terwilliger Hot Springs. A customer at the hot springs refused to pay and a verbal dispute ensued. The attendants and customer...

  • McK Fire Report - May 16

    May 6: 10:05: 49000 block, McK. Hwy. Down Line. Line Found, Utility Company Notified. May 7: 3:31: 42000 blk, McK. Hwy. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. 14:14: 40000 blk, Booth Kelly Rd. Lift Assist Only. May 9: 7:28: 41000 blk, McK. Hwy. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. 20:56: 38000 blk, McK. Hwy. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, Refusal Obtained. May 11: 13:03: 87000 blk, Dowdy Ln Illegal Burning. Fire Extinguished. 20:28: 90000 blk, Angels Flight Rd Medical, Trauma. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported....

  • Upper McK Fire Report - May 16

    May 8: 10:44: Medical – 55000 block, E. King Rd. Female, Conscious, Breathing. May 9: 09:44: Motor Vehicle Accident - Mill Creek Rd./McK. Hwy. 2 vehicles, non-injury. May 10: 19:51: Medical – 91000 blk, Horse Creek Rd. Male, Conscious, Breathing. May 12: 02:51: MVA – McK. Hwy./Milepost 34. 2 vehicle crash, landslide. The Upper McK. Fire District’s board of directors will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 20th, at the McK. Fire Station, 56578 McK. Hwy. in McKenzie...

  • Sunnie Marr Burger

    September 2, 1922 – November 11, 2023 Longtime Leaburg, Oregon resident, Sunnie Marr Burger, age 101, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Cascade Place in Enumclaw, WA on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2023, from age related causes. Sunnie was born on September 2, 1922 in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Ethel and David Weitz. She had two older sisters, Millie and Alice. In 1942 her family moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, CA. The country was at war and the Army had a need for women, so...